Last week we talked about ripping your characters apart to make them lower than low before struggling on to your climax. This is so they hit rock bottom and their triumph, or defeat if you’re writing tragedies, is as impactful on the reader as humanly possible. Because who doesn’t love to think that the hero can build themselves up from nothing after hitting rock bottom?
This week we’re on to that build-up again. Where there’s a steep and treacherous climb to get to your actual climax and triumph or fail for your main character. Now, what elements of this build up should we focus on? I’ve broken it down to three things for your main character specifically.
1. Growth:
Despite the hell you’ve put them through, your character needs to learn to look past all the bad things in their life and push forward to achieve what they want, or kill your antagonist, or whatever their goal is. This is still centered around their main goal–the one that drives your story.
So they’ve got to pick themselves up and brush themselves off, and carry on.
Watch your character development and goals.
2. Realistic expectations:
How many books have you read where the climax is right around the corner and suddenly your klutzy MC is tiptoeing around like the ninja king/queen? It’s unrealistic. So while writing this build up you either have to put in some training, because there’s no way Bella Swan would be better than a bull in a china shop when it comes to sneaking anywhere. So why should your MC be the exception?
So if your gal or guy has to become a killing machine, have them learn some moves. Do your research. It helps. So much.
Also, if they’re a klutz, keep them klutzy. Have them turn their weakness into a strength by being the diversion for another character’s escape or whatever. If your climax comes down to facing fears, have them test the water before diving in. If it comes to embracing who they are, have them psych themselves out first, don’t just go in head-first.
In other words, watch your pacing.
3. Doubts:
We all doubt ourselves. Anyone who says otherwise is a liar. It’s engrained in our instincts. We want to be accepted so when it comes to confrontation or breaking any mold we’ve become accustomed to, we tend to flip out a little. Yet there are several characters who go in guns blazing and win in the YA world.
Try to keep things realistic. Write about what you know is a common saying, so listen to it. In terms of your character gearing up for the most pivotal moment of the story, you think there’d be some inner panic at the very least. Make them afraid and face their fears. Think about just auditioning for the school play. If you’re new, then it’s terrifying until you’ve been auditioning for years, and even then it’s still a little nerve wracking.
Now think about saving the world, or killing a dragon. Compared to auditioning for a school play, killing a dragon is pant-wetting-worthy.
Watch your character consistency.
In short your build up comes down to a delicate balance of consistency, appropriate timing, and remembering the main problem of your story and how to face that fear. Make sure that flows as well as humanly possible and you’ll end up with a jaw-dropping build before your climax.
Tweetables:
In comparison, killing a dragon is pant-wetting-worthy. @hannahhuntwrite talks buildups on #WritingWednesday
Keep it consistent in pacing, development, and problems when setting up climaxes @hannahhuntwrite #yalit #writingtips
Why your buildup to the #climax should be #slow and well-timed @hannahhuntwrite #WritingWednesday
hannahhuntwritesblog 